It might be tempting to wear badminton shoes for walking since they can be quite stylish and provide you with a good grip. Moreover, they are also very comfortable, light, and flexible. Wearing badminton shoes for casual walking makes sense, doesn’t it? Well, I have got the answer for you.
Yes, badminton shoes can be used for walking, however, it is not a good idea to do so. Even though badminton shoes are stylish and comfortable, their soles are made for indoor courts. Wearing them outside of indoor courts will wear them out very quickly.
If you own any badminton shoes before, you know how awesome they feel on your feet. It can be very tempting to wear them out and about. I used to do that and after burning through many pairs of badminton shoes, I finally learned my lesson. I did some research and found out how badminton shoes are designed for only indoor use. Read on to find out what I gathered from my research.
Why Is It A Bad Idea to Walk with Badminton Shoes?
Many experienced players in badminton will tell you to change out your badminton shoes once you finished playing. Listen to their advice, because they have a good reason for it.
Badminton Shoes Design
The first thing you will notice when you have a pair of badminton shoes are its soles. They are made of gum rubber (yellow in color), which is a thin grippy material. Not only are they thin, but they are also very soft.
When you compare them with non-badminton shoes such as running shoes, you will immediately notice how much thicker and harder the rubber soles of running shoes are. Gum rubber soles are very delicate, therefore, you should not wear your badminton shoes for casual walking. Doing so will make them wear out quickly and you will not get as much bang for your buck for your badminton shoes.
There are several reasons for the thin sole design on badminton shoes. Firstly, it makes the shoes as lightweight as possible, allowing you to move around the court in a quick pace. Next, they also serve the purpose of letting your feet feel the ground. When you feel the ground more, you are also able to make more explosive movements and also balance better. Lastly, they prevent you from injury.
You might be wondering… “how does a thin sole prevent injuries?”. Well, the thin soles of the shoes actually make your center of gravity lower. When that happens, your balance automatically becomes better. It is important to have a good balance when you play a sport like a badminton since it is fast-paced and requires you to change directions rapidly. Changing directions rapidly can easily cause sprained or twisted ankles if you are not wearing the proper shoes (shoes with thick soles).
Types of Surface
Different types of surface will determine how quickly your badminton shoes wear out. Indoor badminton courts are usually made of synthetic PU which is relatively soft compared to surfaces outside of badminton courts.
If you are wearing your badminton shoes for causal walking, it will be very harsh on them. The places you walk on usually have a much harder and rougher surface than those in indoor badminton courts. The harder and rougher the surface is, the faster your badminton shoes will wear out.
What Will Happen To My Badminton Shoes If I Used Them for Walking?
As I have mentioned, walking with your badminton shoes is not exactly a good idea since it will wear them out much faster. There are 4 common ways your badminton shoes can wear out. They include:
- Losing grip potency
- Soles become torn or unevenly worn off
- Soles being detached from the shoes
- Shoes getting loose
Your soles using grip potency will happen even quicker if you are walking on hot surfaces. The heat will melt off your grip very quickly, making your shoes ineffective on the court. On the other hand, if you are walking on cold/wet surfaces, you risk slipping. The grip of badminton shoes isn’t exactly great for wet surfaces.
Furthermore, badminton shoes are made to expand the more you wear them. At first, they will feel tight but after wearing them a few times, they start to fit you much better. This might sound like a good thing and it is but there is also a downside. These shoes never stop expanding until they are loose. Once they are loose, you HAVE to change a new pair if you want to prevent injuries when playing badminton.
Therefore, only use your badminton shoes for its intended use, which is to play badminton. That’s if you don’t want your shoes to lose their quality or reliability on the court way before the “expiry date”.
P.S. Badminton shoes don’t come with expiry date, how long your badminton shoes last depend on various factors.
Should I Only Wear My Badminton Shoes When I Reach The Court?
Yes, bring your badminton shoes in a separate bag with you when you are commuting to the badminton court.
It might make sense to put on your badminton shoes at home when you are about to go to the badminton court but you really shouldn’t. You don’t want to have unnecessary pressure and impact on your badminton shoes when driving or walking outside of the badminton court. This is an extra step you should really take if you want your badminton shoes to serve you for as long as possible.
When Do I Know My Shoes Wore Out?
You know your shoes wore out when they start to feel slippery (even on dry surfaces) or loose on your feet. They are pretty obvious when they happen, you will definitely notice. Replacing your badminton shoes is a MUST whenever either of these 2 things happens. It will put you in serious danger of ankle injuries if you ignore them.
Conclusion
You can use your badminton shoes for walking if you do not care about fast deterioration or needing to replace them more often. Walking in badminton shoes do not cause any harm to your feet or make you uncomfortable. In fact, they are extremely comfortable, lightweight, and not to mention, stylish. However, doing so will wear out your badminton shoes very quickly, especially on the soles.
The type of surface and its temperature are also huge factors in determining how fast your shoes will deteriorate. Only wear your badminton shoes on indoor courts if you want them to last as long as possible. This way, you will get the most bang for your buck with your badminton shoes. Badminton can become really expensive when you are replacing your shoes more often than you need to, especially if they are a quality pair.
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